Today we’d like to introduce you to Star Martin.
Hi Star, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My path into skincare and aesthetics wasn’t exactly traditional, but it was very intentional.
Before The Craft Skin Bar, I spent nearly 15+ years working in marketing. I genuinely loved the creative side of that career, but after my last pregnancy, I found myself at a point where I had to take a hard look at what I was doing with my life. I had left a toxic work environment that had taken a toll on my pregnancy, my health, and my mental well-being, and I realized that something had to change.
Motherhood was a huge catalyst for that decision. I had five kids and was very aware that life is too short to spend so much of it in a career that leaves you feeling depleted. I knew I wanted to do something that still allowed me to be creative and use the skills I’d spent years developing, but I also wanted my work to have a more meaningful impact on people.
I kept coming back to this idea that in a world where there are already plenty of things making people feel stressed, judged, or less than, I wanted to create something that made people feel the opposite. I wanted to build people up. I wanted people to leave my space feeling cared for, understood, and a little more confident than when they walked in.
At 38, I enrolled in esthetics learning Advanced Esthetics and Cosmetic Laser at Southwest Institute of Natural Esthetics. I worked my ass off balancing school, work, and the family, raising five kids, but I knew I was building something that mattered to me. After graduating, I worked in both a spa environment and a larger chain, learning a lot about the industry and what I wanted — and didn’t want — my own business to be.
The dream was always to work for myself. In my previous career, I had spent years building brands, creating marketing strategies, and helping other businesses tell their stories. I started thinking, “What if I took all of that knowledge and finally built something for me?” I wanted to marry the creative and business skills I’d developed with my new passion for aesthetics and helping people feel good about themselves.
So, in September 2023, I took a giant leap of faith and opened The Craft Skin Bar.
I was terrified, excited, and determined — and I definitely didn’t have every step figured out. But I knew one thing for sure: staying where I was wasn’t an option anymore.
Today, The Craft Skin Bar is a reflection of everything I hoped it could be. My work centers around skin confidence, whether someone comes in for a relaxing facial, corrective treatment, hair removal, or simply a little time to take care of themselves. I believe skincare should feel approachable and collaborative, never intimidating or judgmental. Education is a huge part of what I do because I want my clients to understand their skin and feel empowered to make confident decisions about it.
Most importantly, I wanted to create a space for EVERY BODY. A place where people feel comfortable being exactly who they are, where we can have some great conversations and laughs, while still providing professional, results-driven care.
In a lot of ways, The Craft Skin Bar is the intersection of everything I’ve done before and everything I’ve learned along the way. I’m just finally using them to build something that is authentically mine, while doing work that makes me feel like I’m contributing something meaningful to the people who walk through my door.
And honestly, I couldn’t be happier that I took the leap. I’ll be celebrating 3 years this September.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but I think that’s also what has made the journey so rewarding. There has been a tremendous amount of learning, experimenting, refining, and sometimes just figuring things out as I go.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to define what makes The Craft Skin Bar uniquely mine. There are so many talented people in this industry, and I’ve had to spend a lot of time figuring out how I want to show up, who I want to serve, what services make sense for my business, and how to create an experience that feels different without losing sight of who I am. That has meant constantly refining my outreach, services, pricing, marketing, and the overall client experience.
And then there’s the reality of being a solo business owner: I wear ALL the hats. I’m the aesthetician, but I’m also the receptionist, social media manager, marketer, bookkeeper, customer service department, purchasing department, and occasionally the IT department when something decides to stop working. 😂
The biggest lesson has probably been that building a business isn’t about getting everything perfect from the beginning. It’s about being willing to listen, learn, adapt, and keep moving. I’m constantly refining The Craft Skin Bar — not because I don’t believe in what I’ve built, but because I care deeply about continuing to make it better.
There have absolutely been hard days, moments of self-doubt, and plenty of “what the hell am I doing?” moments along the way. But every challenge has taught me something, and I think those lessons are a huge part of what has shaped The Craft Skin Bar into what it is today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Craft Skin Bar?
The Craft Skin Bar is a boutique skincare studio where professional, results-driven skincare meets a genuinely personal experience.
I specialize in customized skin health and advanced modalities, offering everything from corrective and targeted acne treatments to chemical peels, microneedling, dermaplaning, customized facials, LED therapy, and full-body waxing. Every single face and body is unique, so cookie-cutter protocols don’t live here. My approach is always tailored to the exact person laying on my table.
I also believe great care sometimes means knowing when something is outside of my scope. I’ve built relationships with trusted professionals whose services complement the work I do, so when appropriate, I can connect clients with additional resources that align with their individual goals. I work closely with a local PA-C who offers a range of medical aesthetics (Botox, filler, etc.) and wellness services, allowing me to collaborate and refer when there are services that can complement a client’s skincare journey.
What sets The Craft Skin Bar apart? It’s the vibe and the connection. Look, I take skin extremely seriously—I’m obsessed with continuing education, researching advanced ingredients, and giving recommendations that deliver actual results. But I refuse to let professional skincare feel cold, intimidating, or clinical. In my room, you can target real skin goals, learn what actually works for your skin barrier, and laugh your ass off with me while we do it.
Building this brand has been deeply fulfilling because it blends two big chapters of my life. After nearly 15+ years in marketing, building brands for everyone else, I finally got to apply all that experience to ME. Every detail of The Craft Skin Bar—from the visual identity and atmosphere to the way I hold space for my clients—is an extension of who I am.
Most importantly, I built this space for EVERY BODY. Skincare shouldn’t feel exclusive, judgmental, or like something you have to “earn.” Whether you’re working through skin struggles, keeping up with maintenance, hitting the reset button on stress, or just wanting to feel confident in your own skin, YOU belong here.
At the end of the day, I want The Craft Skin Bar to be known for three core things: killer skincare, real results, and an experience where you feel deeply cared for by an actual human being—never just another slot on a schedule.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Honestly, a lot of things make me happy, but most of them come down to people, connection, and having the freedom to be fully myself.
My family is obviously a huge part of that. I have five kids, so life is rarely quiet or predictable, but some of my favorite moments are the completely ordinary ones — laughing with my kids, hanging out with my husband, random conversations, going to a concert or random weekend trip or those little moments where I stop and realize, “This is my life.” I didn’t always have the capacity to appreciate those moments when I was constantly running on stress and burnout.
Creativity makes me incredibly happy too. I’ve always been someone who needs to create — I think that’s a big part of why The Craft Skin Bar feels so fulfilling to me. I get to use that part of my brain every day, but I’m creating something that is actually mine.
And then there’s the people. I genuinely love connecting with people. I’m a total empath. Some of my favorite moments at The Craft Skin Bar aren’t necessarily about the treatment itself; they’re the conversations, the laughing until we’re crying, the moments when a client opens up about something they’ve been struggling with, or when someone leaves and says they feel so much better than when they walked in.
I think what makes me happiest now is feeling like I’m actually present for my life. I spent a lot of years believing success meant constantly pushing harder and accomplishing more. These days, happiness looks a lot more like having people I love around me, doing work that feels meaningful, being creative, laughing a lot, and having the freedom to build a life that actually feels like mine.
Pricing:
- Wax services: $10-100
- Facials: $45-145+
- Advanced Treatments: $45-$150+
- Military Discount: 15%
Contact Info:
- Website: https://TheCraftSkinBarPhx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/star.theaesthetician
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thearizonaaesthetician
